Charlton Heston dead at 84

"Dark Knight"'s Joker Heath Ledger dead at 28

Actor Heath Ledger, 28, set to appear as the Joker in this summer's The Dark Knight, was found dead in his apartment in New York City today. The death appears to be drug-related, though whether it was a suicide has not yet been determined.

From his obituary from AP:

And in what may be his final finished performance, Ledger proved that he wouldn't be intimidated by taking on a character as iconic as Jack Nicholson's Joker. Ledger's version of the Batman villain, glimpsed in early teaser trailers, made it clear that his Joker would be more depraved and dark.
Curiosity about Ledger's final performance will likely stoke further interest in the summer blockbuster. Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan said earlier this month that Ledger's Joker would be wildly different from Nicholson's.
"It was a very great challenge for Heath," Nolan said. "He's extremely original, extremely frightening, tremendously edgy. A very young character, a very anarchic presence that taps into a lot of our basic fears and panic."

Farewell to a talented young actor.

"Daydream Believer" writer dies

John Stewart, member of the 1960s folk act, The Kingston Trio, and writer of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer," among other pop songs, has died. He was 86.

Here's a clip of the Monkees doing "Daydream Believer":

And here's the Kingston Trio in 1966 on the The Andy Williams Show, singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone":

RIP Sam the Butcher

Allan Mellvin, character actor and and cartoon voice artist, has died at age 84.

Best known as Sam the butcher, housekeeper Alice's sometime-boyfriend on The Brady Bunch, also was the voice of Hanna Barbera cartoon character Magilla Gorilla, among many other characters for the studio.

He was also well known as Archie Bunker's friend Barney on All in the Family.

Melvin's voice appeared in other cartoons, including The Flintstones, The Smurfs and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends . He also served as a writer on the Beetle Bailey animated series, for which he played Sgt. Snorkle.

R.I.P. Ike Turner, the First Rock 'n' Roller

Ike Turner died last week, his musical accomplishments overshadowed by his spousal abuse of Tina Turner. on the event of his passing, let's remember Ike for his contribution to what is considered the first rock 'n' roll record, "Rocket 88", from 1951.

From Newsweek:

Among those eulogizing Turner, who died Dec. 13 at age 76, were music producer Phil Spector and rock 'n' roll pioneer Little Richard, who described his friend as "one of the greatest musicians I have ever met in my life." Richard said that Turner's breakthrough rock 'n' roll hit, "Rocket 88," "shook my soul." "I took that same introduction and made `Good Golly, Miss Molly,'" he said. "I took that same thing and made a huge hit."

Rest in peace, Ike, and thanks for helping to create rock 'n' roll.

Farewell Evel Knievel, a real life action figure

On Friday, November 30, 2007, the world lost a real life action figure: Evel Knievel.

As a kid, I loved the stunt cycle with the revving sound to launch him. I remember the Snake River Canyon jump, but for me it was all bout that cycle toy.

RIP Joe Barbera

Joe Barbera, half of the legendary animation team, that created Tom and Jerry, and revolutionized TV animation in the 1960s, has passed. He was 95. His partner, Bill Hanna, died in 20o1.

Together, they created Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, the Flintstones, Jetsons, Scooby Doo and many more famous cartoon characters and series.

According to Animation Magazine:

The animation industry has lost another legend with the passing of Joseph Barbera, who teamed with William Hanna to create famed cartoon studio Hanna-Barbera Prods. in 1944. At the age of 95, Barbera was still an active member of the Warner Bros. Animation team and was listed as exec producer for series such as What's New Scooby-Doo? and Tom and Jerry Tales. In 2005, he wrote, co-storyboarded and co-directed the new Tom and Jerry theatrical short titled KarateGuard. He died Monday of natural causes at his home in Studio City, Calf. with wife Sheila at his side.

RIP Peter Boyle

Peter Boyle died last night at the age of 71. Watch one of his greatest moments from one of the funniest movies ever made, Young Frankenstein: